Department for Transport

Aviation

Hugh Gaffney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect on the viability of the aviation sector of the UK leaving the EU.

Chris Grayling: The Government is undertaking a wide range of ongoing analysis in support of our EU exit negotiations and preparations. Our overall programme of work is comprehensive, thorough and is continuously updated. The Department for Transport is working closely with the sector to ensure that the requirements of the industry are factored into negotiations. The UK government and European Commission have agreed in principle that the two sides should negotiate a comprehensive air transport agreement. This will ensure that the aviation sector can continue to provide the connectivity that is vital for both the UK and EU. We are focused on securing the right arrangements for the future, so that our aviation industry can continue to thrive and passengers across the UK and the EU continue to have high levels of connectivity and choice at attractive prices. The EU model of liberalisation has enhanced competition which has led to these benefits we see today.

Cycling: Road Traffic Offences

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will consider the potential merits of widening the remit of the consultation on proposed new cycling offences to include other road traffic offences.

Jesse Norman: The consultation on new offences for causing death or serious injury by dangerous or careless cycling launched on 12 August and closed on 5 November. The Department is now considering submissions and will publish a response in due course.

Railways: Croydon

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to make a decision on the Windmill Junction East Croydon grade-separated capacity enhancement.

Andrew Jones: The proposed works at Windmill Bridge Junction and East Croydon form part of a wider Brighton Mainline (BML) upgrade programme, led by Network Rail. An Outline Business Case (OBC) is expected to be complete in late 2019. Consistent with our new Rail Enhancements Pipeline process, once the OBC is finalised, a decision will be made whether to progress and fund the Final Business Case (FBC) stage and further development of the project, leading ultimately to a final investment decision over the coming years. Our decision to deliver the programme will be based on there being a sound business case, planning permission, and overall affordability.

Railways: Tickets

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 1 November 2018 to Question 183470 on Railways and Aviation: Fares, what proportion of the UK rail network passengers are planned to be able to use (a) smart cards and (b) mobile phones for fares by the end of 2018.

Andrew Jones: The Government’s £80m investment in accelerating smart ticketing builds on previous and existing franchise commitments, and sits alongside Government funding for Transport for the North’s smart ticketing programme and the Rail Delivery Group’s investment in barcode technology. Together, these programmes mean that the rail industry is on track to deliver a smart card or barcode option that passengers can choose to use for singles, returns and seasons on journeys across almost all of the rail network by the end of the year.

Boeing 737: Safety

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the safety of Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft for UK air passengers following the recent incident in Indonesia; and if he will make a statement.

Jesse Norman: The safety of the traveling public will always be a priority for the Government. Both the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Department for Transport continue to closely monitor the situation following the tragic incident in Indonesia. The safety assessment of the Boeing 737 MAX is the responsibility of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as the national authority of the state of design, and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is responsible for the safety certification of aircraft types in the EU. Following the tragic accident in Indonesia last month, the FAA issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive requiring changes to the aircraft’s flight manuals. This has also been mandated by EASA. There are no Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in service with UK airlines currently. The CAA will ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and directives before any aircraft of this type can enter service with UK airlines.

Highways England: Pay

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what external organisations he has asked to review executive pay in Highways England.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The Department has commissioned EY to review remuneration arrangements across Highways England.

Transport: Noise

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the implications for his policies of the October 2018 World Health Organisation report on noise and health; and if he will make a statement.

Jesse Norman: The Government has noted the recent new Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region published by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The WHO report agrees with the ambition to reduce noise and to minimise adverse health effects, but it also emphasizes the importance of policy being underpinned by the most robust evidence available on these effects. The Government is committed to ensuring that noise is managed to promote good health and quality of life effectively. Between 4 October and 15 November 2018 the Government consulted on the Noise Action Plans, which are designed to manage environmental noise and its effects arising from road, rail and agglomerations (large urban areas). Airport operators have submitted their own separate plans covering their operations.

Taxis: Fares

Laura Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to safeguard taxi drivers from taxi fare evaders.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The Department’s Best Practice Guidance suggests that signs or notices that set out the expectations of passengers when travelling in a taxi or private hire vehicle (PHV) are displayed. This could include that passengers ensure they are aware of the fare on the meter and notify the driver if it is approaching the limit of their financial means. When a fare has been agreed before setting off passengers should ensure they have the means to pay before travelling. Legislation allows taxi drivers to recover unpaid fares and costs to be recovered should a passenger refuse to pay.

Railways: Compensation

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the accuracy of delay repay decisions.

Andrew Jones: Train operators are expected to have fair and transparent processes for considering Delay Repay applications as set out in detail in their Passenger’s Charter. The train operators use industry delay data provided by Network Rail, who have an obligation to ensure that this delay data is accurate. If any passenger is unhappy with the decision taken by the train operator with regards to a Delay Repay claim, then they will shortly be able to take this up with the new Rail Ombudsman.

Reading-Basingstoke Railway Line: Electrification

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 1 March 2018 to Question 904102, when his Department plans to review the need for the electrification of the Reading to Basingstoke line.

Andrew Jones: There are currently no plans for a review by the Department of the need for electrification of the Reading to Basingstoke line. As previously stated in the Answer of 1 March 2018, a feasibility assessment identified that electrification of this line is not required to deliver improvements to passengers.

Transport: Exhaust Emissions

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the annual targets of his Department are for reducing transport emissions in the next 15 years.

Jesse Norman: The UK has statutory targets for both air quality and greenhouse gas emissions across the whole economy. For greenhouse gases, statutory mechanisms set national targets every five years in the form of carbon budgets, as established by the Climate Change Act 2008. For air quality, the Government consulted on a world leading Clean Air Strategy earlier this year, which includes 2020 and 2030 targets for five key air pollutants (nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, ammonia and volatile organic compounds). The Government intends to publish the final strategy by the end of this year. At a local level, the Government and Local Authorities are working to comply with our legal targets for roadside nitrogen dioxide through the UK Plan for Tackling Roadside Nitrogen Dioxide Concentrations, supported by a £3.5 billion investment into air quality and cleaner transport.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Fossil Fuels

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment his Department has made of the viability of removing fossil fuels from the UK's energy generation mix.

Claire Perry: Our Clean Growth Strategy set out the Government’s ambition for a diverse electricity system that supplies our homes and businesses with secure, affordable and clean power.[1]We have already committed to phasing out generating power from coal by 2025[2] and recognise that reducing emissions in the power sector means developing low carbon sources of electricity that are both cheap and clean. There is a number of decarbonisation pathways that balance the role of clean power sources with the use of fossil fuel generation such as from gas. These include those outlined in our Clean Growth Strategy[3], and the latest BEIS Energy and Emissions Projections.[4] [1] See: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/clean-growth-strategy[2] See: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/coal-generation-in-great-britain-the-pathway-to-a-low-carbon-future[3] See: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/clean-growth-strategy[4] See: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/updated-energy-and-emissions-projections-2017

Offshore Industry: Carbon Emissions

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 12 November to Question 186939 on British Petroleum: Offshore Industry, whether the Oil and Gas Authority (a) must or (b) may take into account the effect of oil and gas developments on the UK’s carbon emissions and commitments as a signatory to the Paris Agreement when making such decisions.

Claire Perry: The remit of the Oil and Gas Authority is to Maximise the Economic Recovery of Petroleum from the UKCS (MER UK). The Energy Act 2016 sets out matters to which the OGA must have regard whilst exercising its functions. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2016/20/section/8/enacted Greenhouse gas emissions from all sectors of the UK’s economy are taken into account when assessing our performance against the carbon budgets and the UK remains committed to the Paris Agreement. As part of this, we have requested that they provide evidence on how reductions in line with the Committee on Climate Change’s recommendations might be delivered in key sectors of the economy and we will consider their advice carefully when it is received.

Natural Gas: Carbon Monoxide

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what targets are planned as part of the RIIO-2 process to ensure gas distribution networks (a) raise awareness of and (b) take steps to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry: This is a matter for Ofgem. I have asked Ofgem to write directly to the Honourable Member and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Cosmetics: Imports

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the UK plans to maintain current restrictions on the marketing of imported cosmetics that rely on animal testing safety data in future bilateral trade agreements.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Government has no plans to reduce current restrictions on the marketing of imported cosmetics that rely on animal testing safety data. We are committed to maintaining our existing high levels of product safety and consumer protection.

Fracking: Earthquakes

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions he has had with the Oil and Gas Authority on changes to its traffic light system for responding to seismic events at shale gas sites.

Claire Perry: The Chief Executive of the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) wrote to me on 2 November and provided reassurance that the regulatory regime is performing well and that the OGA have not seen anything from the seismic events to date which suggests otherwise.There are no plans to review the traffic light system.

Fracking: Lancashire

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will publish any reports received by his Department from the (a) Oil and Gas Authority, (b) Environment Agency and (c) Health and Safety Executive on the four seismic events of greater than the red light 0.5ML threshold that occurred at the Preston New Road shale gas site between 26 October 2018 and 4 November 2018.

Claire Perry: If a seismic event of 0.5ML, or greater, on the ‘Richter Local Scale’ is detected and causally linked to the operations, hydraulic fracturing is suspended for a minimum of 18 hours. An event report must be submitted to and independently reviewed by each of the regulatory bodies who will only allow operations to recommence once they have fully assessed the information and are satisfied the event conforms to the pre-agreed Hydraulic Fracture Plan. Within 30 days of completion of all hydraulic fracturing operations at a well, a Hydraulic Fracturing Operations Report must be submitted to the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) by the operator. The OGA will publish these reports six months after receipt.

Fracking: Earthquakes

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make it his policy to introduce a requirement for independent well integrity tests at shale gas sites in the event of seismic events of greater than the red light 0.5 ML threshold occurring at such sites.

Claire Perry: The Traffic Light System dictates that if an event of 0.5ML or above is detected and causally linked to operations, the operator must pause operations for 18 hours and reduce well pressure. Operations are only allowed to resume once regulators are satisfied that any risks have been appropriately mitigated and this includes consideration of well integrity by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The HSE robustly and independently regulates health and safety across Great Britain. The HSE has a proven track record of taking enforcement action where breaches of relevant legislation have occurred and, as an effective and proportionate regulator, will continue to do so when appropriate. Under our existing legislation, the HSE requires operators of oil and gas wells to maintain well integrity throughout the lifecycle of the well, from design and construction to final decommissioning. The HSE routinely inspects the well integrity risk management systems of oil and gas well operators, and verifies these inspections by scrutinising statutory wells operation reports sent weekly to the HSE by the operator.

Fracking: Lancashire

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many earthquakes have been recorded at the Preston New Road site since Cuadrilla started fracking at that location.

Claire Perry: The British Geological Survey (BGS) is recording seismicity in the Fylde and as of 15 November it has reported 36 minor seismic events since operations began, all but four of these were below the 0.5 magnitude threshold which requires Cuadrilla to pause operations for a minimum of 18 hours. The BGS has a greater quantity of specialist equipment in the Fylde than anywhere else in the UK which is why a high proportion of minor seismic events are being published on their site which are not reported elsewhere in the country.

Fracking: Lancashire

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether Cuadrilla has complied with the 18 hour waiting time after every recorded earthquake on the Preston New Road site.

Claire Perry: The Oil and Gas Authority have confirmed that Cuadrilla have paused hydraulic fracturing operations for a minimum of 18 hours following a seismic event of 0.5 magnitude or above, as is required in the strict controls in the Hydraulic Fracture Plan.

Fracking: Lancashire

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Oil and Gas Authority has visited the Preston New Road shale gas site since the four seismic events of greater than the red light 0.5ML threshold that occurred between 26 October 2018 and 4 November 2018.

Claire Perry: Officials from the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) have visited the Preston New Road site since the red traffic light events. The OGA is closely monitoring operations at the site and is continuing to scrutinise data from the seismic monitoring array.

Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme

Bill Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department plans to continue the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive beyond 2020.

Bill Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has assessed the potential merits of introducing a financial incentive for processes which change timber into renewable heat products.

Claire Perry: Renewable heat is currently supported under the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). The RHI has funding agreed out to 2021. Beyond this, the Department is developing policy proposals for a clear framework to phase out high carbon fossil fuels for domestic and non-domestic buildings off the gas grid in the 2020s. From 19 March to 11 June 2018 we held a public Call for Evidence as a first step in developing this policy framework. The Department aims to publish a response to the Call for Evidence in due course.

Climate Change

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of the (a) IPCC’s report on global warming of 1.5 degrees and (b) the outlined scenarios in that report of (i) 1C, (ii) 1.5C and (iii) 2C warming.

Claire Perry: The IPCC report makes clear the significant threat posed by climate change. The Government has acted quickly in response to the report by commissioning our independent experts, the Committee on Climate Change, to provide their advice on the implications of the Paris Agreement for the UK’s long-term emissions reduction targets, including on setting a net zero target. We will consider their advice carefully when it is received.

Renewable Energy

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of the UK’s energy supply that came from green sources in each year since 2010.

Claire Perry: Renewable energy sources are biomass, wind, solar photovoltaics, hydro, wave and shoreline, active solar, heat pumps, and deep geothermal[1].The proportion of energy supply from these renewable sources between 2010 and 2017 can be found online:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/743653/Aggregated_Energy_Balances_showing_proportion_of_renewables.xlsx.

Renewable Energy

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans his Department has to encourage the wider use of green energy sources by (a) private industry, (b) the public sector and (c) domestic consumers.

Claire Perry: The Department runs a number of schemes to encourage the wider use of green energy sources. The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme promotes the uptake of renewable heat technologies through financial incentives. The Non-domestic RHI is open to both private industry and the public sector, and the Domestic RHI is open to domestic consumers. The scheme has funding confirmed until 2021. Beyond this, the Department is developing policy proposals for a clear framework to phase out high carbon fossil fuels for domestic and non-domestic buildings off the gas grid in the 2020s. The Contracts for Difference Scheme is our main mechanism for supporting new large scale renewable energy generation projects. The next competitive allocation round for less established technologies such as offshore wind will open by May 2019, with subsequent auctions around every two years, using the £557 million that was announced as part of the 2016 Budget. The Feed-In Tariffs (FITs) scheme has also been successful in attracting investment in small-scale (up to 5MW) low carbon electricity generation since it was introduced in 2010. The Government announced the closure of the FITs generation tariff on 1 April 2015 and has recently consulted on closing the export tariff. We are currently considering options for small-scale low carbon generation beyond April 2019 and will make a statement in due course.

Females: New Businesses

Jim Shannon: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps the Government is taking to support graduate women to start their own businesses.

Claire Perry: The Government is committed to a cohesive society, where everyone – no matter what their background – has the opportunity to enter into and progress at work and achieve on merit. We know that companies with diverse workforces perform better and are more profitable. An inclusive economic policy is vital to the success of our Industrial Strategy. Supporting female graduates is captured in our Government support offer which is available to all, regardless of gender, age or ethnicity. There are now 1.1 million female-led small and medium-sized businesses in the UK. This accounts for 19% of SMEs in the UK, 5% higher than in 2010. The Government is also pleased that the female employment rate is 71% and a higher percentage of women are on FTSE 350 company boards than ever before. The Government-owned British Business Bank provides Start-Up Loans for individuals wishing to start a business and women account for 39% of recipients. The Bank is also conducting a review into the specific barriers female-led businesses face in accessing Venture Capital. On 21 September 2018, HM Treasury also launched a review into the barriers women face getting into business. Businesswoman Alison Rose, Chief Executive of RBS Commercial and Private Banking, will lead the government review to identify the extent of these barriers and explore what can be done to overcome them. This review will bolster our work to make it easier for them to access the support they need to get their ideas off the ground and grow their businesses.

Oil: Prices

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will hold meetings with representatives of the oil industry on the recent reduction in the crude oil price that is not reflected in retail fuel prices.

Claire Perry: Ministers and officials from the Department meet representatives from the oil industry to discuss the United Kingdom downstream oil sector on a regular basis. The Government believes that it is essential that consumers get a fair deal and that a competitive market is the best way to keep prices low. Fuel pricing is subject to UK competition law under the Competition and Markets Authority. Its predecessor, the Office of Fair Trading last looked at fuel prices in 2013. I expect the retail fuel market to be kept under review.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of potential job losses in the renewable energy sector after the closure of the feed-in-tariff scheme in March 2019.

Claire Perry: An Impact Assessment was published on 19 July alongside the consultation on the closure of the Feed-in Tariffs scheme. The Impact Assessment and consultation can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/feed-in-tariffs-scheme.

Fracking: Lancashire

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the call by Cuadrilla for an increase in the threshold for the maximum magnitude level at which it is allowed to operate.

Claire Perry: The Traffic Light System is working exactly as intended. As I have already set out to this House, there are no plans to review it. The Traffic Light System ensures that induced seismic events remain at a level that prevents the risk of damage to the environment or property.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Yemen: Peace Negotiations

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to use the UK’s penholder status on Yemen at the UN Security Council to bring a new resolution forward on ending the armed conflict in Yemen.

Alistair Burt: The UK continues to fulfil its role as penholder on Yemen in the UN Security Council by coordinating sessions with the Security Council President that respond to developments in Yemen and the will of the Council as a whole. On Monday 19 November, the UK circulated a draft UN Security Council resolution calling for a cessation of hostilities, steps to improve the humanitarian situation, and support for the work of the UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths. Both the Foreign Secretary and I have recently visited the Middle East to have constructive discussions with the Saudi-led Coalition on pathways to achieve de-escalation and reduce tensions. The Foreign Secretary was clear that both sides would need to play their part in confidence-building measures.​

Yemen: Military Intervention

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what diplomatic steps his Department is taking to protect the civilians trapped in Hodeidah, Yemen.

Alistair Burt: We are in regular contact with the Coalition about the need to ensure that any further military operations in and around Hodeidah are conducted in accordance with international humanitarian law, including on the protection of civilians, and do not disrupt commercial and humanitarian flows through the port. The UK has been at the forefront of the humanitarian response to the Yemeni crisis and addressing this is a priority for the Government. The Foreign Secretary discussed humanitarian issues with King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia on 12 November. I spoke about these issues to the Saudi Foreign Minister on 30 October, and to the Emirati Deputy Foreign Minister on 7 November.

Bangladesh: Elections

Mrs Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure (a) international oversight by observers and (b) the accuracy of the voter registration database in relation to parliamentary elections in Bangladesh; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Field: ​The British Government has been clear that we want to see a free, fair and pluralistic election in Bangladesh and I have repeatedly encouraged the Government of Bangladesh and opposition parties to engage in an effective dialogue to this end. Through our High Commission in Dhaka we have been clear that the Election Commission should be allowed to continue its important work, including the registration of voters, without interference. We have consistently made the case for international oversight of the election and the EU has agreed to send an Election Expert Mission. Through the Department for International Development funding, the UK will also support local observation of the general election.The Foreign Secretary raised his concerns regarding the next election in Bangladesh with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina when they met at the UN General Assembly in New York on 24 September. In a call on 1 November with State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shahriar Alam, I again made the case for a free, fair and participatory election. Allowing freedom of expression and freedom of assembly is an integral aspect of this, and through our High Commission in Dhaka the UK continues to make its concerns heard regarding freedom of expression in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh: Elections

Mrs Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his counterpart in the Bangladesh Government on ensuring freedom to (a) campaign and (b) assemble in advance of the parliamentary elections in that country.

Mark Field: The British Government has been consistently clear that we wish to see a free, fair and pluralistic election in Bangladesh. I have repeatedly encouraged the Government of Bangladesh and opposition parties to engage in an effective dialogue to this end. Through our High Commission in Dhaka we have been clear that the Election Commission should be allowed to continue its important work, including the registration of voters, without inteference. We have consistently made the case for international oversight of the election and the EU has agreed to send an Election Expert Mission. Through the Department for International Development funding, the UK will also support local observation of the general election.The Foreign Secretary raised his concerns regarding the next election in Bangladesh with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina when they met at the UN General Assembly in New York on 24 September. In a call on 1 November with State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shahriar Alam, I again made the case for a free, fair and participatory election. Allowing freedom of expression and freedom of assembly is an integral aspect of this, and through our High Commission in Dhaka the UK continues to make its concerns heard regarding freedom of expression in Bangladesh.

Nabeel Rajab

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the validity of the case against Mr Nabeel Rajab; and what representations his Department has made to the Bahraini Government on Mr Rajab.

Alistair Burt: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 23 October 2018 (PQ 180116).The honourable member will recall that I expressed my concerns on the sentence given to Mr Rajab in my written statement of 21 February. I also reiterated the UK's call for Bahrain to protect freedom of expression for all its citizens, in line with international obligations.Our Embassy in Bahrain has closely monitored the trials of Mr Rajab. Officials from the Embassy regularly attend Mr Rajab's court hearings, including the handing down of the latest appeal verdict. We have raised the case at senior levels as part of the UK's ongoing open dialogue with Bahrain. I am aware that there is now an opportunity for Mr Rajab's legal team to apply for an appeal through the judicial system. My officials will continue to monitor the case closely.

Pakistan: Blasphemy

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Government of Pakistan on ensuring the security and protection of (a) lawyers and judges in Pakistan who are involved in blasphemy cases and (b) (i) Asia Bibi's lawyer Saiful Malook and (ii) the three Supreme Court judges involved in Asia Bibi’s case.

Mark Field: In August, the Prime Minister raised with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan the importance of Pakistan delivering on its commitments to strengthen institutions responsible for upholding the rule of law. As the Prime Minister recognised in Parliament on 14 November, Imran Khan has publicly supported the Supreme Court and promised to uphold the rule of law, while providing continued protection for Asia Bibi.The UK is helping improve the justice system in Pakistan. Our Rule of Law programme aims to strengthen the formal criminal justice system through more effective investigations and prosecutions of crime.

Afghanistan: Ethnic Groups

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Afghanistan Government on protecting Hazaras people in Ghazni and Uruzgan provinces.

Mark Field: We regularly raise issues concerning freedom of religion with the Government of Afghanistan, underlining, the need to protect the rights of all ethnic and religious groups in line with the constitution of Afghanistan.We are concerned about the high number of civilian casualties and displaced persons that have resulted from the recent violence in Ghazni and Uruzgan. We urge that all parties to the conflict respect International Humanitarian Law, protecting the civilian population and facilitating the provision of assistance by neutral and impartial humanitarian agencies. We assess that the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) are now working to stabilise the security situation in both provinces. We understand that those who have been displaced are receiving assistance from local authorities.We continue to monitor the impact that fighting may have had on tensions between different communities. Ultimately, we urge all parties to negotiate a peaceful end to the conflict, which is causing the tragic death of innocent civilians.

Rohingya: Children

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that the individuals responsible for attacks on Rohingya children are brought to justice.

Mark Field: ​The Government condemns the atrocities that have taken place in Rakhine including the violence committed against children. The Foreign Secretary made clear to Burma's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi in their meeting of 20 September that holding to account those responsible for atrocities was of critical importance. The UK co-sponsored the UN Human Rights Council Resolution of 27 September that established a mechanism to collect and preserve evidence of human rights violations in Burma for use in future prosecutions. The UK ensured the Head of the UN Fact Finding Mission was invited to brief the UN Security Council on 24 October. The UK will continue to look at accountability options and work with our international partners to support those assisting victims and building evidence.

Eritrea: Sanctions

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy is on proposals to lift the UN arms embargo and other sanctions on the Government of Eritrea.

Harriett Baldwin: ​The United Kingdom welcomes the unanimous adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2444 on 14 November, which lifted all UN sanctions relating to Eritrea.

Djibouti: Eritrea

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the progress of talks between the Governments of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia on resolving ongoing disputes between Djibouti and Eritrea and normalising relations between those countries.

Harriett Baldwin: The United Kingdom supports the position set out in UN Security Council Resolution 2444, notes the Government of Djibouti’s statement of 14 November expressing its ‘entire satisfaction’ with the text, and will continue to support efforts to resolve ongoing disputes between Djibouti and Eritrea and the normalising of relations between those countries.

Horn of Africa: Foreign Relations

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the outcomes of the tripartite meeting of the leaders of Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia in Gondar on 9 November 2018.

Harriett Baldwin: I welcome the statement from the tripartite meeting of the leaders of Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia in Gondar on 9 November 2018 and their commitment to inclusive regional peace and cooperation.

Somalia: Elections

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the (a) Federal Government of Somalia and (b) United Nations Mission in Somalia on preparations for elections in (i) South West State; (ii) Puntland and (iii) Jubaland; and what assessment he has made of the prospects for holding such elections in a safe, free and fair manner in line with current timescales.

Harriett Baldwin: ​I discussed one-person-one-vote elections with Somalia's Prime Minister and the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Somalia during a visit to Mogadishu on 6 October 2018. Our Ambassador to Somalia regularly discusses all issues related to the elections with the Federal Government of Somalia, Federal Member State leaders and the United Nations Mission in Somalia. British Government officials also attend UN-convened electoral information-sharing meetings. The UK is calling on all parties to ensure credible and peaceful elections.

Somalia: Elections

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications of the security situation in Somalia’s South West state for the safe conduct of the presidential election due to take place in that state on 19 November 2018.

Harriett Baldwin: The South West State presidential election is now scheduled to take place on 28 November 2018. The election will not be one-person-one-vote as the electorate comprises Members of the South West State Parliament. The UK is calling on all parties to ensure a peaceful election. Our Ambassador to Somalia has sought assurances from the Somali National Army and Police in South West State that there is a credible plan for security during the election period and that forces will remain impartial. Election security is expected to be provided by a combination of the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM), United Nations Police, South West State Police and Somalia's National Intelligence and Security Agency.

Somalia: Elections

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the progress of efforts to establish a credible, nationwide electoral framework in Somalia ahead of the national elections scheduled to take place in 2020.

Harriett Baldwin: Somalia has committed to hold inclusive one-person-one-vote elections in 2020 and progress has been made in charting a path towards this. We call on Somalia's leaders to honour that commitment with an election that gives voters a meaningful opportunity to choose their representatives and enables women, minority groups, internally displaced persons and people with disabilities to participate fully.It is positive that the National Electoral Law has been drafted. The next steps are the passage of the National Electoral Law by Parliament, the drafting of supporting regulations, the amendment to the political parties law and the finalisation of the Constitutional Review process. In 2019 progress is needed on voter registration, voter education and practical preparations for election day.

Cameroon: Human Rights

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 July 2018 to Question 163505 on Cameroon: Human Rights, whether the Government has made any plans to help secure access to British Southern Cameroon's territory for the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights since the recent escalation of violence in the British Southern Cameroons territory.

Harriett Baldwin: ​The area formerly known as "Southern Cameroons" has been part of the Republic of Cameroon since 1961. The British Government, with our international partners, continue to urge the Government of Cameroon to allow UNHCHR unhindered access across the country.

Bahrain: Human Rights

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment has been made of the implications for Government policy of the concerns expressed by the Committee on Civil and Political Rights on 4 July 2018, in relation to Sayed Ahmed Alwadei and other Bahraini individuals who have reportedly been subjected to reprisals connected to their work alongside the Human Rights Council of the UN.

Alistair Burt: We have received assurances from the Bahraini authorities that there have been no reprisals against the family members of Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei. We encourage those with concerns to report these to the appropriate Bahrain human rights oversight bodies. We urge these oversight bodies to carry out swift and thorough investigations into any such claims.

Foreign Relations

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the governments of non-EU countries on (a) the draft withdrawal agreement for the UK leaving the EU and (b) the effect of that agreement on the UK's future relationships with such countries since that draft agreement was agreed by Cabinet.

Sir Alan Duncan: ​The British Government has an active programme of engagement with our international partners outside the EU on a range of issues, including EU exit, where we keep countries updated on a regular basis at key moments in the negotiations. As the Prime Minister has said, the UK is leaving the European Union not Europe. The draft Withdrawal Agreement and outline Political Declaration provide the basis for what will be the closest relationship between the EU and any third country and signals the ambition of both sides to embark on a new, deep and special partnership after the UK leaves the EU, as well as strengthened relationships with other countries further afield.

Cabinet Office

Cabinet Office: Brexit

Layla Moran: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many non-disclosure agreements his Department has made in relation to preparations for the UK leaving the EU.

Mr David Lidington: This information is not held centrally and could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

ZTE Corporation

Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) news story entitled ZTE: NCSC advice to select telecommunications operators with national security concerns, published on 16 April 2018, on what dates the (a) NCSC and (b) GCHQ met with ZTE on the security concerns that led to NCSC's letter of 13 April 2018 on ZTE.

Mr David Lidington: The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) was created in 2016 as part of the Government's five-year National Cyber Security Strategy. The NCSC was set up to help protect our critical services from cyber attacks, manage major incidents, develop cyber skills and technology, and provide advice to citizens and organisations.The NCSC provides expert advice to the critical infrastructure sectors, including the telecoms sector, based on its unique knowledge and experience. DCMS, Cabinet Office and the NCSC have an ongoing dialogue with telecommunications operators including ZTE. The Government maintains the confidentiality of the discussions leading to national security advice including the ZTE letter dated 13 April 2018.

ZTE Corporation

Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) news story entitled ZTE: NCSC advice to select telecommunications operators with national security concerns, published on 16 April 2018, what evidence on ZTE’s perceived risk to national security was provided by (a) NCSC and (b) GCHQ to the Cabinet Office (i) before and (ii) after NCSC’s letter on ZTE dated 13 April 2018.

Mr David Lidington: The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) was created in 2016 as part of the Government's five-year National Cyber Security Strategy. The NCSC was set up to help protect our critical services from cyber attacks, manage major incidents, develop cyber skills and technology, and provide advice to citizens and organisations.The NCSC provides expert advice to the critical infrastructure sectors, including the telecoms sector, based on its unique knowledge and experience. DCMS, Cabinet Office and the NCSC have an ongoing dialogue with telecommunications operators including ZTE. The Government maintains the confidentiality of the discussions leading to national security advice including the ZTE letter dated 13 April 2018.

ZTE Corporation

Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) news story entitled ZTE: NCSC advice to select telecommunications operators with national security concerns, published on 16 April 2018, what formal meetings were held between (a) NCSC, GCHQ and the Cabinet Office and (b) UK telecommunications operators on the perceived risk to national security posed by ZTE technology (i) before and (ii) after NCSC’s letter on ZTE dated 13 April 2018.

Mr David Lidington: The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) was created in 2016 as part of the Government's five-year National Cyber Security Strategy. The NCSC was set up to help protect our critical services from cyber attacks, manage major incidents, develop cyber skills and technology, and provide advice to citizens and organisations.The NCSC provides expert advice to the critical infrastructure sectors, including the telecoms sector, based on its unique knowledge and experience. DCMS, Cabinet Office and the NCSC have an ongoing dialogue with telecommunications operators including ZTE. The Government maintains the confidentiality of the discussions leading to national security advice including the ZTE letter dated 13 April 2018.

ZTE Corporation

Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) news story entitled ZTE: NCSC advice to select telecommunications operators with national security concerns, published on 16 April 2018, what communications took place between (a) the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and (b) the Chinese Government (i) before and (ii) after NCSC’s letter on ZTE dated 13 April 2018.

Mr David Lidington: The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) was created in 2016 as part of the Government's five-year National Cyber Security Strategy. The NCSC was set up to help protect our critical services from cyber attacks, manage major incidents, develop cyber skills and technology, and provide advice to citizens and organisations.The NCSC provides expert advice to the critical infrastructure sectors, including the telecoms sector, based on its unique knowledge and experience. DCMS, Cabinet Office and the NCSC have an ongoing dialogue with telecommunications operators including ZTE. The Government maintains the confidentiality of the discussions leading to national security advice including the ZTE letter dated 13 April 2018.

Electronic Cigarettes

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the contribution of the vaping industry is to the economy.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

Rendition and Torture: Inquiries

Mr Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Minister for theCabinet Office, for what reason the Government has not met its deadline for announcing whether to launch an independent judge-led inquiry into UK involvement in torture and rendition.

Mr David Lidington: The Government is continuing to give the necessary careful consideration to the need for an independent judge-led inquiry.

Local Government: Elections

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 16 May 2018 to Question 905328, what evaluation has been made of the voter ID pilots in the local elections 2018.

Chloe Smith: The British public deserves to have confidence in our democracy. Voter ID was successfully tested at the local elections on 3 May. The overwhelming majority of electors who turned up to vote did so with the right documents and had confidence in knowing how to cast their vote. The success of the voter ID pilots proves that voter ID is a reasonable and proportionate measure and voters were fully aware of the changes on polling day. The evaluations of the 2018 pilots can be found at:https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/find-information-by-subject/electoral-fraud/voter-identification-pilot-schemesandhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electoral-integrity-project-local-elections-2018-evaluation

Department of Health and Social Care

Hospitals: Standards

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what evidence his Department holds on the effect on the quality of care of fines levied as a result of hospitals breaching targets; and whether he is taking steps to ensure that such fines do not detract from the provision of care to potentially affected populations.

Stephen Hammond: All providers of National Health Service-funded healthcare services are expected to meet a range of national standards, other operational standards and quality requirements. These are set out in the NHS Standard Contract along with the consequences of breaches of these. In many cases, the consequence would be a financial sanction. Since April 2016, most NHS providers agreeing to meet financial control targets as part of the sustainability funding programme are exempt from such sanctions. However, any revenue withheld is reinvested in the local healthcare system.

Health Services: Standards

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effectiveness of quality incentive schemes in improving the quality of care to patients.

Caroline Dinenage: Several different quality incentive schemes operate in the National Health Service. The Quality and Outcomes Framework is a voluntary pay for performance scheme within the general practitioner contract. It focuses upon improving the care of patients with one or more of 25 long term conditions. In 2018, NHS England undertook and published a Review of the Quality and Outcomes Framework which drew upon published evidence to evaluate its effectiveness and identify opportunities for reform. The recommendations made in the report are the subject of ongoing discussions with the General Practitioners Committee of the British Medical Association. The Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) and Quality Premium schemes are intended to drive improvement by providers, and are administered by clinical commissioning groups and NHS England. The indicators in both are routinely reviewed as part of the NHS Planning Round to ensure that the schemes reflect the latest clinical priorities. CQUIN has demonstrably helped secure improvements in certain areas: e.g. sepsis and venous thromboembolism management, hepatitis C treatment and staff flu vaccinations. However, we are also aware that some indicators have been less impactful, for example where we have pursued complex service changes or goals without a standard implementation method. The schemes are being reviewed with a view to changes in 2019/20.

Integrated Care Systems

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he is taking steps to ensure that the proposed whole population annual budget for Integrated Care Provider contracts does not create (a) incentives to underbid to obtain contracts and (b) other perverse incentives.

Stephen Hammond: NHS England launched a 12 week public consultation on the proposed contracting arrangements for integrated care providers (ICPs) on 3 August 2018 which concluded on 26 October. More information is available at the following link: https://www.engage.england.nhs.uk/consultation/proposed-contracting-arrangements-for-icps/ NHS England will publish a response to the consultation following full consideration of responses and feedback. The consultation documents provide more detail about NHS England’s current proposals for ICPs, including the proposed integrated budget.

Prescription Drugs

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government has provided guidance to manufacturers on communicating the potential health benefits of their products to consumers.

Stephen Hammond: The Government has not provided guidance to manufacturers on communicating the potential health benefits of their products provided through the NHS Supply Chain to consumers.

Mental Health Services: Young People

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking in response to the consultation on the Transforming children and young people’s mental health provision Green Paper in order to improve mental health provision for 18 to 25-year-olds.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Some young people need ongoing support into young adulthood, after they leave children and young people’s mental health services. This point of transition is an important stage for young people, and it is not always easy. In January 2015, NHS England published a Model Specification for Transitions from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, to support better transition planning and delivery by local providers. Transition from children and young people’s mental health services has also been included as one of 13 mandatory national indicators in the Commissioning for Quality and Innovation scheme (2017/19), which offers financial incentives to local areas to encourage improved transition planning for children and young people. To address issues of transition, some areas have already also adopted a mental health service which supports young people from ages 0-25.

Learning Disability: Community Care

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the October 2015 Government document Building the Right Support: A national implementation plan to develop community services and close inpatient facilities, how much money has accrued to the public purse from changes in the number of beds for people with learning disabilities and autism; and what proportion of that amount has been reallocated to local authorities.

Caroline Dinenage: As set out in ‘Building the Right Support’, any funding released by the transfer of patients from inpatient to community-based or other models of care will be reinvested in those better alternatives to hospital. In 2018/19, NHS England’s specialised commissioning function has transferred £53 million of funds, previously allocated to secure in-patient care, to Transforming Care Partnerships (TCPs) so that they can support new individual support packages for the patients discharged, or invest in new community services. NHS England does not collect data on clinical commissioning group (CCG) funding which has been reinvested into community-based care. TCPs continue to develop their funding arrangements between their constituent CCGs and local authorities, and NHS England is currently collecting data on these arrangements. This information will help in assessing how much NHS funding is planned to be transferred to local authorities via pooled budgets and/or funding transfers under section 256 of the NHS Act 2006 so that the shared ambition of the Transforming Care programme can be realised.

NHS Property Services: Buildings

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the total number of assets managed by NHS Property Service.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of properties owned by NHS Property Services.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) properties and (b) assets are in each region of NHS Property Services.

Stephen Hammond: NHS Property Services has 2,959 properties. The properties are broken down in the following regions: North West – 533 propertiesEast – 468 propertiesSouth East – 459 propertiesNorth Central – 357 propertiesLondon – 347 propertiesWest Midlands – 289 propertiesSouth West – 287 propertiesNorth East – 219 propertiesTotal – 2,959 properties The number and split of assets managed by NHS Property Services is the same as the number of properties at 2,959. There are no further assets that NHS Property Services manage.

GP Surgeries: Rents

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the annual rental income received from GP practices for NHS Property Services.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many complaints has he received from GP's about NHS Property Services.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he expects the agreement between the BMA and NHS Property Services concerning the leases given to GP practice to be concluded.

Stephen Hammond: The annual rental income received from general practitioners (GPs) in 2017/18 was £54 million. NHS Property Services has 1,215 GP tenants. NHS Property Services has recorded the following number of complaints from GP tenants over the last three years:2016/17 – 242017/18 - 522018/19 (to date) - 34 Agreeing leases with individual GPs is an ongoing process.

NHS Property Services

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he last met the Chief Executive of NHS Property Services.

Stephen Hammond: The Secretary of State met the Chief Executive of NHS Property Services last month.

Palliative Care: Children

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that all children with life-limiting conditions have access to an advance care plan, as recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

Caroline Dinenage: Local commissioners, who are responsible for delivering the majority of children’s palliative and end of life care, should take the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence guidance into account when planning services for local populations. To support implementation of the guidance NHS England commissioned Together for Short Lives, a leading children’s end of life care charity, to examine services across the country to identify best practice in implementation of the guidance, as well as barriers, through interviews with local NHS services. Together for Short Lives have now provided a suite of solutions to enable local areas to meet the needs of children at the end of life. More information about this work can be found at the following link: www.togetherforshortlives.org.uk/changing-lives/supporting-care-professionals/introduction-childrens-palliative-care/nice-guidelines/

AAT Deficiency

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he take steps to make available intravenous alpha-1 augmentation therapy through the NHS to treat alpha-1.

Caroline Dinenage: NHS England is engaging with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) on the Highly Specialised Technologies evaluation of human alpha1-proteinase inhibitor for treating emphysema in adults with documented severe alpha1 antitrypsin deficiency. NICE has not yet published final guidance and recently consulted on its draft guidance. NICE’s evaluation committee is due to meet again to consider its recommendations in spring next year. This is to enable the company that makes the alpha1-proteinase inhibitor to prepare and submit additional information for consideration by the committee. Once NICE guidance is received, NHS England will then consider the commissioning implications in consultation with the Specialised Respiratory Clinical Reference Group.

AAT Deficiency

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans a NHS service for alpha-1 to improve patients' access to coordinated multi-disciplinary clinical expertise, which was approved by the Department's Prescribed Specialised Services Advisory Group in March 2016, to commence.

Caroline Dinenage: The Specialised Respiratory Clinical Reference Group (CRG) is maintaining an oversight of the need to develop a service specification and selection of providers to offer specialised expertise and management advice for patients diagnosed with alpha1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD). The CRG has recommended that NHS England wait until it is clear on the outcome of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Highly Specialised Technologies evaluation of human alpha1-proteinase inhibitor for treating emphysema in adults with documented severe AATD [ID856] until this development is taken forward. NICE has not yet published final guidance and recently consulted on its draft guidance. NICE’s evaluation committee is due to meet again to consider its recommendations in spring next year. This is to enable the company that makes the alpha1-proteinase inhibitor to prepare and submit additional information for consideration by the committee.

Gambling: Rehabilitation

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 9 November 2018 to Question 186383 on Gambling: Rehabilitation, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that local authorities are able to adequately support people who have gambling addictions.

Steve Brine: In summer 2018, Public Health England and the Local Government Association published a guide for local authorities which provides an overview of gambling-related harms and how councils can begin to try to help local residents who are impacted by it. It provides information on the current framework for prevention and support, information on the regulatory tools councils can use to help tackle gambling-related harm and the role of public health. ‘Tackling Gambling Related Harm: A whole council approach’ is available to view at the following link: https://www.local.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/10.28%20GUIDANCE%20ON%20PROBLEM%20GAMBLING_07.pdf

Preventive Medicine

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the document entitled Prevention is better than cure, published by his Department on 5 November 2018, what the timetable is for the Green Paper on prevention.

Steve Brine: On 5 November the Government’s Vision for Prevention was published (entitled ‘Prevention is better than cure’). This set out how prevention will be placed at the heart of our health and social care system for the long term. This vision is just the beginning - much more needs to be done to make it a reality. Next year, the Government will work with stakeholders to publish a Green Paper on prevention setting out government plans in more detail, and seeking a wide range of views on what action is most needed. The Department will work closely across Government, and with our partners in health, social care, local government, housing and the voluntary sector.

Department for International Development

Palestinians: Females

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department is supporting the Arab Women’s Enterprise Fund initiative in the Occupied Palestinian Territories; and if she will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: DFID funded the Arab Women’s Enterprise Fund (AWEF) in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) between October 2015 and March 2018, and currently funds the programme in Jordan and Egypt. DFID continues to monitor the sustainability and impact of AWEF in the OPTs.

Syria: Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether funding from her Department has been used in financial years (a) 2016-17, (b) 2017-18 and (c) 2018-19 to support humanitarian assistance programmes in areas of Syria controlled by the Ha’yat Tahrir Al-Sham militia .

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will ask the National Audit Office to investigate whether funding from her Department has been diverted in financial years (a) 2016-17, (b) 2017-18 and (c) 2018-19 to support the activities of the Ha’yat Tahrir Al-Sham militia.

Alistair Burt: The UK is at the forefront of the humanitarian response providing life-saving and life-changing support for millions of people across Syria, including those living in Northwest Syria where Ha’yat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) is present.In 2016/17 and 2017/18, DFID spent £205 million and £152 million respectively on humanitarian projects in Syria. In 2017/18, over a third of this was delivered cross-border from Turkey, mostly to Idlib governate in Northwest Syria, where in 2017 we reached over 600,000 people in need. For 2018/19, DFID plans to spend £174 million for life-saving support in Syria.While we acknowledge that working in fragile and conflict-affected countries carries risks, DFID has robust and extensive controls in place to ensure that tax payers’ money is used appropriately and effectively, that UK aid reaches those who need it most and that it does not benefit extremist groups such as HTS. Our programmes are delivered by trusted NGO and UN partners with proven expertise and track records. We do not provide funding unless these organisations can assure DFID that it will not benefit extremists. All our assistance is monitored robustly, and DFID will withdraw support if there is a reason to believe UK tax payer’s money may be at risk. For example, in September 2018, DFID took the precautionary measure to pause all cross-border assistance at Bab Al Hawa in Northwest Syria, while we investigated concern around whether HTS collected fees from trucks delivering humanitarian aid. Whilst this situation was swiftly resolved, it demonstrates the robust approach we take to these matters, and are working with other donors to mitigate the risks of a similar situation reoccurring in the future.As with other DFID programmes, our work in Syria remains under subject to regular review and close scrutiny, both through internal and independent processes, including by the National Audit Office and the Independent Commission for Aid Impact, which last examined DFID’s Syria humanitarian programmes in May 2018.

Developing Countries: Educational Exchanges

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the Connecting Classrooms through Global Learning programme, what steps her Department is taking to train 60,000 teachers and schools leaders in the UK and developing countries.

Harriett Baldwin: The Connecting Classrooms through Global Learning programme (2018-2021) aims to reach 3 million pupils in over 4,000 schools partnerships by 2021. It will train 60,000 teachers and school leaders in both the UK and developing countries on the following:setting up and running equitable partnerships, which will focus on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);teaching and mainstreaming development education and global citizenship content, such as the SDGs;teaching transferable skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving; andensuring that education is inclusive and of high quality. This training will be provided in line with best practice, using the model of two days of input, followed by approximately six weeks of putting the learning into practice, and then a follow-up to share the learning. This model worked well in the previous Connecting Classrooms programme (2015-2018), through which over 56,000 teachers were trained in the UK and overseas. Delivery of teacher training will begin in January 2019.

Yemen: Humanitarian Aid

Victoria Prentis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to get (a) food and (b) fuel imports into Yemen during the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

Alistair Burt: The UK government continues to raise concerns with the Saudi led-Coalition about the potential impact of any assault on the port and city of Hodeidah and is in regular contact with the Coalition about the need to ensure that any further military operations do not disrupt commercial and humanitarian flows both through the port and onwards across the country. To date, Red Sea ports remain operational and continue to import most of the food and fuel on which Yemenis rely.As we have consistently made clear, the Houthis must facilitate access throughout areas they control which is where most of the population live.As part of our effort to secure vital access for food, fuel, and medicine into and throughout Yemen, the UK is also providing £1.3 million to the UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism to give the Saudi-led Coalition confidence that weapons are not coming in to Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen on large commercial ships.

Developing Countries: Poliomyelitis

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of whether the global polio eradication initiative will be completed by September 2019.

Alistair Burt: The UK is a strong supporter of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) and we work closely with the partnership. The GPEI has reduced cases of polio by 99.9% since 1988. Notwithstanding its success, transmission of the poliovirus has not been interrupted. This means the world cannot yet be certified polio free and as such GPEI are developing a new strategy taking them past 2019.

Islamic State

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to support redevelopment and deradicalisation programmes in territory previously occupied by Daesh.

Alistair Burt: The UK is proud of our role in the Global Coalition’s fight against Daesh. DFID is also at the forefront of the humanitarian response in the region, working to address humanitarian needs in the region, and to ensure that all vulnerable people, including those affected by Daesh in Syria and Iraq receive help.In Northeast Syria, including areas previously occupied by Daesh, we provide support to address individual’s basic needs, including restocking health facilities with medicines and equipment, non-food items, and water and sanitation support. Additionally, we have provided funding and announced new support to help clear landmines and explosives which will ensure humanitarian agencies can reach those in need.In formerly-Daesh controlled territories in Iraq, the UK provides redevelopment support and funds community cohesion projects to help kick-start local economies and create the appropriate conditions for sustainable population return.In areas formerly controlled by Daesh in Syria and Iraq, we are also providing education and psychosocial support services, aimed at children affected by trauma.

International Citizen Service

Mr Steve Reed: What assessment she has made of the future funding needs of the International Citizen Service.

Harriett Baldwin: Almost 35,000 young people have completed the International Citizen Service to date. Thanks to a £15m extension to the programme, 3,000 more young people will complete placements before the end of next year. As we continue with our ambitious redesign, funding details beyond next year have not been confirmed. However, I can confirm that £8.5 million has been allocated for the 2019/20 financial year.

Yemen: Famine

Paula Sherriff: What steps the Government is taking to respond to the risk of mass famine in Yemen.

Alistair Burt: The UK is playing a lead role preventing famine in Yemen, with our funding meeting the immediate food needs of 4 million Yemenis this year.We also recently announced support for UNICEF to screen over 2 million children for severe acute malnutrition, and provide treatment for 70,000 of the most vulnerable children.

World Health Organisation

Rosie Cooper: What steps her Department is taking with the World Health Organisation to achieve the sustainable development goals to (a) end preventable child deaths and (b) establish universal health coverage.

Alistair Burt: The UK supports WHO’s leadership on health systems and work to achieve Universal Health coverage, including ending preventable child deaths and addressing global health security, and I commend WHO’s leadership on the recent Ebola outbreaks in DRC. DFID funds WHO to provide technical assistance, develop global standards and norms, strengthen country health systems and support health and wellbeing for all.

St Helena: Airports

Meg Hillier: How many planes have successfully (a) landed and (b) taken off from St Helena's airport since that airport was built.

Penny Mordaunt: Since the airport opened in April 2016, there have been 278 flights. This consists of 139 arrivals and 139 departures.

Department for Education

Teachers

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that teaching is an attractive and fulfilling profession.

Nick Gibb: Holding answer received on 20 November 2018



The Government is delivering a pay rise of up to 3.5% for classroom teachers on the main pay range, 2% for those on the upper pay range and 1.5% for those in leadership positions. This is being supported by a Teachers Pay Grant of over £500 million covering the difference between the first 1% that schools would have been anticipating under the previous public sector pay cap and the 2018 award.The Department has put in place a range of measures, including generous bursaries, worth up to £26,000 for priority subjects, to encourage trainees to take key subjects such as mathematics and physics. The Department is also testing new financial incentives for priority subject teachers. These include early-career payments for new maths teachers and a student loan reimbursement scheme for languages and science teachers.The Department invests in a range of programmes to help teachers develop the knowledge and skills required to be successful in moving into school leadership positions. These include the recently strengthened National Professional Qualifications (NPQs), with over £10m made available to help schools in priority areas benefit from this high-quality professional development.Earlier this year the Department announced the development of a new strategy to drive recruitment and boost retention of teachers. The strategy will cover a wide range of areas including professional development, workload, career progression, flexible working and entry routes into teaching.

Schools: Meat

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions his Department has had with Lancashire County Council on the Council's ban on halal and kosher meat in school meals.

Nadhim Zahawi: The department has had no discussions with Lancashire County Council with regards to their ban on halal and kosher meat in school meals. The government sets out required minimum standards for school food in the School Food Standards to ensure that children are served healthy, nutritious meals at school. The standards do not specify food requirements in terms of cultural and religious needs.Headteachers, governors and their caterers are best placed to make decisions about their school food policies, which includes acting reasonably to provide choices that take account of cultural, religious and special dietary needs. Schools that choose to arrange their school meals through a local authority or another catering organisation may wish to take this into consideration. Schools may consider providing both halal and non-halal or kosher food each day, or ensuring that dishes are clearly labelled to allow pupils to select the appropriate choice.

Educational Institutions: Suffolk

Dr Dan Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to support the continuation of an independent land-based skills college in Suffolk.

Anne Milton: We want to make sure that there is high quality, land-based provision serving Norfolk and Suffolk. Following the recent Ofsted inspection of Easton and Otley College, we will work with the college to consider its options and to ensure that learners have access to quality land-based provision in the locality.

Academies: Pupil Exclusions

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of school exclusions have been made by academies in each of the last three years.

Nadhim Zahawi: Holding answer received on 20 November 2018



The accompanying table provides the numbers of exclusions in academies and other state-funded schools in England in academic years 2014/15 to 2016/17, and the percentage of the total in academies.Table 14 of the ‘National tables’ data can be found within the ‘Permanent and fixed-period exclusions in England 2016 to 2017’ release. This table includes information on exclusions in academies and other state-funded schools, including exclusion rates. The full release is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/permanent-and-fixed-period-exclusions-in-england-2016-to-2017.Earlier publications in the series have the equivalent information for earlier years, found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-exclusions.It is important to only consider the context of schools when assessing the percentage of exclusions. At the end of 2017, around 1 in 10 sponsored academies were Good or Outstanding before they converted, compared to almost 7 in 10 after they became an academy (where an inspection has taken place).



191920_Permanent_and_fixed_period_exclusions
(PDF Document, 26.46 KB)

Department for Education: M and C Saatchi

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the value is of his Department's contract with M&C Saatchi to relaunch the marketing campaign promoting apprenticeships.

Anne Milton: The value of the department’s contract with M&C Saatchi for the 2018-19 financial year is £2.55 million. It was awarded following a competitive tender through a Crown Commercial Service communications framework.The contract covers the development of a new integrated communications campaign to change perceptions of apprenticeships and to encourage more people to see the positive value that apprenticeships can have on their business or their career.It includes agency fees, the cost of producing the new advertising campaign and promotional content, the development of a new digital service and third-party costs, such as research.

Wakefield City Academies Trust

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 4 September 2018 to Question 168016, when he plans to place a copy of the report of the multi-academy trust review of Wakefield City Academies Trust carried out by the Education and Skills Funding Agency in the Libraries of both Houses.

Nadhim Zahawi: The 2016 report has now been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. This can also be found on GOV.UK at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/financial-management-and-governance-reviews-wakefield-city-academies-trust.

Disabled Students' Allowances: Visual Impairment

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the (a) technical guidance and (b) assessment process for disabled students' allowance is meeting the needs of students with vision impairment.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Disabled Students’ Allowances’ (DSAs) guidance is updated annually and available for all students applying for DSAs. The guidance is available at: https://www.practitioners.slc.co.uk/media/1646/1819-guidance-dsa-new-students-from-ay-201617.pdf.A student eligible for DSAs will undertake a DSAs Study Needs Assessment at one of approximately 200 accredited UK assessment centres. A needs assessor will then identify what type of support is essential to enable the student to undertake their chosen course. Potential support for students with vision impairment includes sighted guides, specialist note takers and specialist equipment. DSAs assessment centres are required to comply with the service standards set out in the DSAs Quality Assurance Group’s Quality Assurance Framework, available at:https://dsa-qag.org.uk/application/files/3415/3874/0719/Assessment_Centre_QAF_18_19_v7.0.pdf.

Students: Fees and Charges

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to page 8 of the report of the Education Committee, Value for money in higher education, published on 5 November 2018, if will take steps to require universities to publish a breakdown of how tuition fees are spent.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Students’ ability to make informed choices is at the heart of our recent reforms to higher education (HE). This government recognises the importance of this area and is increasing the information available to students to ensure that they can make informed choices about what and where to study.As set out in the department’s strategic guidance to the Office for Students (OfS), we expect them to play a key role in delivering our objectives to improve and support informed choice through the provision of effective information, advice and guidance to all students. In February, we asked the OfS to work with the HE sector to improve transparency so that students know what they should expect and can effectively challenge providers who do not deliver on their commitments.In addition, we asked the OfS to consider how to increase the transparency and visibility of what students can expect to receive for their investment at different HE providers, by making Longitudinal Education Outcomes data more widely available such as through publication on Unistats, thereby enabling students to make the right choices for them.Although we provide guidance for the OfS, we cannot instruct it to undertake any specific course of action as it is an independent arm’s length body.The government will respond directly to the Education Select Committee on its HE value for money report recommendations in due course.

Higher Education: Admissions

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to page 23 of the report of the Education Committee, Value for money in higher education, published on 5 November 2018, HC 343, what steps he is taking to increase the number of state school-educated students studying at Russell Group universities.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Widening participation to Higher Education is a priority for this government. The government wants everyone with the capability to succeed in Higher Education to have the opportunity to benefit from a university education, regardless of their background.This year, record rates of English 18 year olds, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds, have entered full-time university. However, more could and should be done. That is why in the department’s first guidance to the Office for Students, we asked them to encourage providers to make further progress in ensuring that students from: areas of low higher education participation; low household income; and/or low socio-economic status, can access, participate and succeed in higher education, including at the most selective institutions.In addition, a new transparency condition requires higher education providers to publish application, offer, acceptance, non-continuation and attainment rates by socio-economic background, gender and ethnicity. This will provide greater transparency and help drive fairness on admissions and outcomes.Prior attainment is a critical factor and the government have asked higher education providers to take on a more direct role in helping to raise attainment in schools as part of their outreach activity. All universities are expected to help raise attainment and support school improvement, including through school sponsorship and by establishing new state schools.

Ministry of Justice

Prisons: Crimes of Violence and Self-harm

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many incidents of (a) self harm, (b) violence against prisoners and (c) violence against prison staff per 100 prisoners there were in each prison in each of the last five years.

Rory Stewart: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 09 November 2018.The correct answer should have been:

The tables show the numbers of self-harm incidents, assault incidents on prisoners, and assault incidents on staff, per 100 prisoners, for each prison from 2013 to 2017 inclusive. The Government takes very seriously its responsibility to keep prisoners safe, and we are committed to reducing the incidence of self-harm across the estate. This is why we have established a prison safety programme through which we are taking forward a comprehensive set of actions to improve safety in custody. We have invested in over 3,000 additional staff in order to deliver consistent, purposeful regimes. We have also introduced the new key worker role, under which staff can give prisoners more effective challenge and support. Our prison staff work incredibly hard and we are under no illusions about the challenges they face. We are taking urgent action to make prisons safer, and assaults on our staff will never be tolerated. That is why we are working with the Police and Crown Prosecution Service to ensure successful prosecutions of those who assault them. It is also why the Government supported the recently passed Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act, which increases sentences for those who attack emergency workers, including prison officers.



PQ 186964 - Tables
(Excel SpreadSheet, 75.15 KB)

Rory Stewart: The tables show the numbers of self-harm incidents, assault incidents on prisoners, and assault incidents on staff, per 100 prisoners, for each prison from 2013 to 2017 inclusive. The Government takes very seriously its responsibility to keep prisoners safe, and we are committed to reducing the incidence of self-harm across the estate. This is why we have established a prison safety programme through which we are taking forward a comprehensive set of actions to improve safety in custody. We have invested in over 3,000 additional staff in order to deliver consistent, purposeful regimes. We have also introduced the new key worker role, under which staff can give prisoners more effective challenge and support. Our prison staff work incredibly hard and we are under no illusions about the challenges they face. We are taking urgent action to make prisons safer, and assaults on our staff will never be tolerated. That is why we are working with the Police and Crown Prosecution Service to ensure successful prosecutions of those who assault them. It is also why the Government supported the recently passed Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act, which increases sentences for those who attack emergency workers, including prison officers.



PQ 186964 - Tables
(Excel SpreadSheet, 75.15 KB)

Prisons: Capital Investment

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, to which programmes the £1.3 billion of capital spending on prisons announced following the 2015 spending review has been allocated.

Rory Stewart: As set out on the 26 June at the Justice Select Committee and in the 2017 manifesto, we remain committed to building up to 10,000 modern and decent prison places to replace old, expensive and unsuitable accommodation. We will deliver this through a combination of both new prisons and the reconfiguration of existing establishments, to enable governors to achieve better outcomes. While our ambition remains the same, the way that we will deliver this programme has changed meaning that a direct comparison to the £1.3 billion figure is not appropriate. As the Chancellor set out in the budget on 30 October, we now intend to build the first two prisons through public capital at Wellingborough, which is due to open in 2021 and Glen Parva, which we expect to open in 2022 and we continue to explore funding options for the remaining prison places. We are planning to launch a competition later this year to establish a framework from which the operators of the new prisons will be chosen.

Probation: Death

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 1 November 2018 to Question 184996 on Probation: Death, if he will provide that information for each year since 2010.

Rory Stewart: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 14 November 2018.The correct answer should have been:

The information requested is provided in the attached table. As per the answer to PQ 184996, please note that offenders may appear both within the caseload figures of court orders (including community orders and suspended sentence orders), and post-release supervision. The National Probation Service and Community Rehabilitation Companies work closely with other agencies to support offenders in the community. When an offender being supervised by Probation dies, the Probation provider must examine the circumstances of the death and identify areas to improve practice. While we work extremely closely with each offender before and after release to help them find the support they need, we do not have sole responsibility for caring for these offenders. We are clear, however, that they should receive the same level of care as other members of the public.



PQ188194 - Table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 14.51 KB)

Rory Stewart: The information requested is provided in the attached table. As per the answer to PQ 184996, please note that offenders may appear both within the caseload figures of court orders (including community orders and suspended sentence orders), and post-release supervision. The National Probation Service and Community Rehabilitation Companies work closely with other agencies to support offenders in the community. When an offender being supervised by Probation dies, the Probation provider must examine the circumstances of the death and identify areas to improve practice. While we work extremely closely with each offender before and after release to help them find the support they need, we do not have sole responsibility for caring for these offenders. We are clear, however, that they should receive the same level of care as other members of the public.



PQ188194 - Table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 14.51 KB)

Prisons: Private Sector

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 18 September 2018 to Question 172523 on Prisons: Private Sector, when his Department stopped holding data on the number of staff certified under Section 89 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 18 September 2018 to Question 172523 on Prisons: Private Sector, for what reason his Department stopped holding data on the number of staff at each privately operated prison certified under Section 89 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many new Officer Certificates under Section 89 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 have been issued by his Department in each month since January 2018.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many officer certificates under Section 89 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 have been withdrawn by his Department in each month since January 2018.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 18 September 2018 to Question 172523 on Prisons: Private Sector, what information his Department holds on individual prison custody officers approved under Section 89 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991.

Rory Stewart: With regards to when the Ministry of Justice stopped holding data on the number of certified staff and the reasons for doing so, it may help if I explain that the MoJ has never collected this information. Whilst Section 89 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 confirms that a Prison Custody Officer (PCO) is approved by the Secretary of State for the purpose of performing escort and custodial duties, it does not oblige the Secretary of State to collect or publish the information requested. The Secretary of State approves PCOs for the purpose of performing escort functions or custodial duties or both and PCO’s are accordingly authorised to perform them. However, there is not a process in place whereby the Secretary of State formally issues certificates to new PCOs, and as mentioned previously, Section 89 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 does not oblige the Secretary of State to collect or publish such information. All staffing matters, including the responsibility for ensuring the availability of sufficiently trained and experienced staff to maintain safe and decent prisons, lies with contractors. There is no requirement in the contracts to agree staffing levels with the Ministry of Justice. Therefore, all staff working in privately managed prisons are fully certified and, as such, the figures we hold, and have provided on several occasions, include the funded posts for fully certified staff.As you know, each privately managed prison has a full-time on-site Controller employed by HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). The Controller has regular review meetings with the contractor against a range of performance indicators that will reflect numbers of staff in post, recruitment, training, sickness, and attrition. Any concerns in relation to these performance indicators are discussed at these meetings. Where action is needed, progress is monitored by the Controller and escalated within HMPPS where appropriate action can be taken in accordance with the contract. This may include a requirement for urgent improvement and/or financial deductions.

Prisoners' Release

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were released from prison on 22 December 2017; and how many of those people were recalled within one month of release.

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were released from prison between 18 and 22 December 2017; and how many of those people were recalled within one month of release.

Rory Stewart: 791(1) people were released from prison, from determinate and indeterminate sentences, on 22 December 2017. Of those 791, 98 were recalled within one month of their release date. 1,777(1) people were released from prison, from determinate and indeterminate sentences, between 18 December and 22 December 2017 (inclusive). Of those 1,777, 200 were recalled within one month of their release date. (1) The number of offenders released do not include those re-released following recall. Public protection is our priority and recall is used to ensure that offenders on licence who present a high risk of harm to the public or are at risk of re-offending are returned to custody as quickly as possible.

Prisoners' Release

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were released from prison on each Friday in the last six months.

Rory Stewart: The information requested is extracted from the most recent data available and is detailed in the table attached. Prisoners are released when they have a statutory entitlement to be released once they have reached their automatic release date, or are released on a discretionary basis by the Parole Board, the Secretary of State or through early release on Home Detention Curfew (HDC) by prison governors. If the automatic release date – which for the majority of prisoners is the half-way point in their sentence – falls on a weekend or Bank holiday, the law (Section 23(3) Criminal Justice Act 1961) requires the release to be brought forward to the first preceding working day. To defer the release date would mean holding the person unlawfully. The exception is where the sentence is 5 days or less. In such cases the law provides for release to be on the Saturday if the automatic release date falls on a weekend or Bank Holiday. We have no evidence of any statistically significant difference in reoffending outcomes for prisoners released on a Friday.



Table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 11.33 KB)

Legal Aid Scheme

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many legal aid providers there were in each region of England and Wales in each year since 2010.

Lucy Frazer: Holding answer received on 19 November 2018



LAA Regional Office31st March 201031st March 201131st March 201231st March 201331st March 201431st March 201531st March 201631st March 201731st March 201831st October 2018Birmingham408426394401380363357337353363Brighton269280261255239233219212207212Bristol440418372371327323306284279273Cambridge378420381365326332302289294280Cardiff330363357357336328298283283270Leeds409425400392391393389371382395Liverpool118130118115114113106101100102London859939917907937898864805811841Manchester495543500479460449422392397386Newcastle245265242234226225209197189189Nottingham293313276271268267258237243235Reading241265251244219219211200198194Grand Total4,4854,7874,4694,3914,2234,1433,9413,7083,7363,740

Veterans

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to page 19 paragraph 6 of HM Government publication, The Strategy For Our Veterans, published in November 2018, what steps he is taking to ensure that veterans leave the armed forces with the resilience and awareness to remain law-abiding civilians; and what amount of funding he has allocated to the 2028 outcome.

Edward Argar: The Veterans Strategy and the current consultation, which seeks public views to inform the strategy’s implementation, is something to which my Department actively contributed and strongly supports. The resource required to implement the Strategy for our Veterans will be agreed between Ministerial Covenant and Veterans Board members, which includes the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. We continue to work with a range of military charities and organisations who have the skills to work with former service personnel entering or leaving custody, or who are supervised in the community by probation services.

Violent and Sex Offender Register: Cross Border Cooperation

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what liaison arrangements exist between the multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA) framework in England and Wales and the MAPPA frameworks in (a) Scotland and (b) Northern Ireland.

Rory Stewart: Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) are separate, distinct frameworks in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. However, practitioners from Scotland and Northern Ireland are invited to attend MAPPA Improvement Group meetings in England and Wales and may join the MAPPA website (a secure online tool to facilitate policy announcements, consultation and communication between MAPPA practitioners). The Police National Lead for MAPPA in England and Wales visited colleagues in Scotland in May 2017 and Northern Ireland in October 2018.

Prisons: Drugs

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to paragraph 77 on page 27 of the report of the Health and Social Care Committee Prison Health, published on 1 November 2018, HC 963, what steps he plans to take to prevent prisoners from developing a problem with illicit drugs while in prison.

Rory Stewart: I am grateful for the time that the Committee has spent looking at prison healthcare. We are considering carefully the Committee’s recommendations and will respond in due course. Tackling drugs is vital to ensure safe and productive prison environments and this includes preventing prisoners developing substance misuse issues.To do this, we have formed a Drugs Taskforce, working with law enforcement and health partners across government. The Taskforce is developing a national drugs strategy, underpinned by advice and guidance that will support the whole of the estate to restrict supply, reduce demand and build recovery. Restricting access to illicit drugs in prison is crucial to preventing substance misuse. We are working with the police to catch and convict criminals who smuggle contraband into prisons, and exploring additional security measures and new technology to stop these incursions. Reducing demand for drugs in prison also requires us to get the incentives right. We have developed the concept of ‘Incentivised Substance Free Living’, where prisoners who can demonstrate – through regular compact-based and random mandatory testing – that they are not misusing drugs can experience better living conditions. This will support prisoners to make good decisions and prevent them developing issues with substance misuse. We are also testing innovative approaches through our £9 million joint Ministry of Justice and Department of Health and Social Care Drug Recovery Prison pilot at HMP Holme House.

Treasury

Home Shopping: Taxation

Jim Shannon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of using revenue from the online sales tax to support high streets.

Mel Stride: The Budget 2018 announced Our Plan for the High Street, a support package worth £1.5 billion that aims to help high streets and town centres in England to evolve and adapt to changing consumer demands. This support includes a two-year business rates cut of one third to the bills of small retailers, a £675m Future High Streets Fund to support high streets to evolve, and planning reforms. The measures apply to England. The UK Government is providing Barnett consequential funding to the Devolved Administrations so that they may offer similar support if they wish.At the Budget, the government announced a Digital Services Tax. This is not a tax on online sales but a tax on the revenues of certain digital business activities which derive value from UK users.

Small Businesses: Tax Allowances

Jim Shannon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he will consider further tax breaks for micro businesses and small business to enable those businesses to take on more employees.

Mel Stride: This government recognises the UK’s 5.7 million small and medium businesses play a vital role in the economy, employing 16.1 million people. Since April 2014, businesses and charities have been entitled to the Employment Allowance (EA) to reduce their employer NICs bill every year to enable them to grow and hire new staff. The EA was increased in 2015 to £3,000 per employer and from April 2020 will be targeted at the smallest businesses, who need it most.

Motorways: Speed Limits

John Spellar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the news report entitled Raising motorway speed limit could boost economy, Treasury Minister says on Tory conference fringe, published by the Mirror in October 2018, whether the Chief Secretary's comments that raising the speed limit to 80 mph would increase national productivity represented Government policy.

Elizabeth Truss: These comments did not represent current government policy. The government is committed to increasing national productivity, and is exploring transport’s full potential to enable this.

Treasury: Brexit

Layla Moran: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many non-disclosure agreements his Department has made in relation to preparations for the UK leaving the EU.

John Glen: The Government has non-disclosure agreements with some private sector organisations. Confidentiality requirements are a common element of contractual obligations and are used by departments to protect commercial considerations; to reflect the sensitive nature of some discussions; and to facilitate conversations that otherwise may not have been able to take place, due to concerns around sensitive information. As part of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, HM Treasury and the UK Government as a whole continue to engage with a wide range of stakeholders.

Customs

Sir Michael Fallon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on SMEs in Kent of making customs declarations for the first time in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Mel Stride: The Government remains confident of agreeing a mutually advantageous deal with the EU. However, we understand that if in the unlikely event that the UK leaves without a deal, customs declarations will become a new obligation for UK-EU trade which could affect many small and medium sized businesses. HMRC continues to engage with businesses and their representative trade bodies and undertakes further specific engagement to understand how they will be affected by these new obligations. HMRC has written to 145,000 traders over the VAT threshold who currently only trade with the EU to help them plan for a no deal scenario. Alongside this, HMT and HMRC are supporting the intermediaries sector to expand ahead of March 19, so that they can provide services to SMEs.

Debt Collection: Regulation

Scott Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has plans amend the regulation of debt collection agencies.

John Glen: The Government continually monitors the regulation of sectors to ensure good outcomes for consumers. Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulation of debt collection agencies (DCAs) provides strong protections for consumers. DCAs under FCA regulation have to comply with the FCA’s high-level principle to treat customers fairly, as well as offer appropriate forbearance and signpost individuals to free and impartial debt advice should a consumer be in default, or in arrears difficulty.

Alcoholic Drinks: Excise Duties

Neil Coyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will place in the Library a copy of all economic analyses the Government has undertaken on banning post duty point dilution or processing.

Mel Stride: Published policy costings provide information on the analysis undertaken to calculate the exchequer impact of every announced policy. This is published alongside the Redbook at each fiscal event. It is not government policy to make publically available detailed economic analysis that feeds into budget decision making.

Free Zones

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment the Government has made of the potential merits of introducing free port schemes across the UK.

Mel Stride: The Government has been clear that it is open to ideas that deliver economic advantages for the UK. Section 100A of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (CEMA) provides the legal basis for the designation of free zones by HM Treasury and will continue to do so following UK withdrawal from the EU. Applying for designation as a free zone will be a commercial decision to be taken by private port operators. It is worth noting that many of the customs-related benefits of free ports are already available through existing customs facilitations, for example inward processing relief.

Tobacco: Excise Duties

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what effect has plain packaging had on the tax received from tobacco duty receipts in each financial year since that policy was introduced.

Robert Jenrick: There has been a long term reduction in annual tobacco duty receipts, driven by above-RPI increases in duty and changing attitudes to smoking. As shown in the published Tobacco Bulletin July 2018. In their November 2016 Economic and fiscal outlook the Office of Budget Responsibility revised their estimates of the underlying downward trend in clearances of tobacco. This was to account for various factors including weakness in tobacco receipts and the expected effects of the Tobacco Products Directive. Paragraph 4.75 noted that the effect on receipts from the introduction of standardised tobacco packaging is assumed to be captured by this downward trend in clearances across the forecast period.

Corporation Tax

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of lowering the rate of corporation tax on corporation tax receipts since 2017.

Mel Stride: The OECD has concluded that corporation tax is the most harmful tax for growth and productivity. In April 2017, the corporation tax rate was reduced from 20% to 19%. This is the continuation of this government’s reduction in the rate from 28% in 2010. Lower corporation taxes can result in increased profits, wages, employment and consumption that all feed through into higher tax revenues that support our vital public services. Despite the rate cut in 2017, the onshore corporation tax revenues have increased from £53.6 billion in 2016-17 to £56.1 billion in 2017-18. Since 2010, onshore corporation tax revenues have increased by 55%.

Trade: Channel Islands

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the net benefits to the economy of trade with the Channel Islands.

John Glen: The Channel Islands contribute significantly to UK trade. Specifically, the UK exported services worth £7.2bn, 2.6% of our total service exports, to Guernsey in 2017. As a result, they were the UK’s ninth largest services export market in 2017.Additionally, in 2017, the UK imported services worth £4.1bn from Jersey, representing 2.5% of all UK service imports. As such, they were the UK’s ninth largest services import market.More widely, the constitutional relationships between the UK and the Channel Islands are historic and highly valued, and there is a constructive working relationship between the UK Government and those jurisdictions.

Financial Services

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the financial sector of the UK leaving the EU without a trade deal.

John Glen: UK and EU negotiators have agreed in principle the terms of the UK’s smooth and orderly exit from the EU, as set out in the Withdrawal Agreement. We have also agreed the broad terms of our future relationship as set out in the outline Political Declaration.We will ensure Parliament can make an informed decision and business and citizens have a clear understanding of our future relationship. The Government is undertaking a programme of analysis in support of our EU exit negotiations and preparations. The Government has confirmed that when we bring forward the vote on the final deal, we will ensure that Parliament is presented with the appropriate analysis to make an informed decision. As the Chancellor set out in his letter of 23 August to the chair of the Treasury Select Committee, the analysis will look at the economic and fiscal effects of leaving the EU.

Foreign Investment in UK

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the level of foreign direct investment was in the 12 months from July 2017.

John Glen: The latest ONS Balance of Payments data shows that in the year to 2018 Q2, foreign direct investment flows (net incurrence of liabilities) into the UK measured £58.1bn.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Leasehold: Ground Rent

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 November 2018 to Question 186951 on Leasehold: Ground Rent, what the average ground rent paid was in each region based on the the latest English Housing Survey data.

James Brokenshire: I refer the Rt Hon Member to my answer to Question UIN 186951 on 7 November 2018.

Council Housing: Construction

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what funding is available to help local authorities build additional capacity to provide more council housing.

James Brokenshire: We are giving local authorities the tools they need to build. We have abolished the Housing Revenue Account borrowing cap, giving local authorities the freedom to borrow to build, in line with the Prudential Code. Local authorities can bid alongside housing associations for the £9 billion Affordable Homes Programme to build affordable homes. We are also providing a longer term rent deal for 5 years from 2020 to provide local authorities with a stable investment environment to deliver new homes and we have consulted on options for allowing local authorities more flexibility in the use of their Right to Buy receipts.We are developing the planning capacity local authorities need to increase the delivery of new homes through the Planning Delivery Fund. Local authorities are able to draw from a wide range of sector led advice, good practice, and case study examples and we will also be working closely with local authorities to ensure they are able to make the most of the tools we have given them.

Mobile Homes: Fees and Charges

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to protect park home owners from unfair terms and fees.

James Brokenshire: The Government set out proposals to improve the rights of park home residents in its response to the review of park homes legislation published on 22 October.The Government will introduce legislation when parliamentary time allows, to prevent the use of terms in agreements requiring residents to pay variable service charges. A working group has been set up to explore how information about residents’ rights and responsibilities can be communicated more effectively to existing and prospective residents, and those working in this sector.A copy of the Government’s response is available at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/749771/Park_homes_Review_Government_response.pdf.

Housing Infrastructure Fund

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 12 November 2018 to Question 185514 on Housing Infrastructure Fund, if he will publish the amount of funding allocated to the Fund in each of the last five financial years.

James Brokenshire: The Housing Infrastructure Fund was increased and extended at Autumn Budget 2018 to £5.5 billion in grant funding across the financial years 2018/19 to 2023/14 to assist local authorities in the delivery of infrastructure for homes.

Social Rented Housing

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) social rent, (b) affordable rent and (c) low-cost ownership homes held in local authority housing revenue accounts.

James Brokenshire: Figures for the number of properties owned by local authorities for social rent, affordable rent and in total as part of their housing revenue account are published in section A of the Local Authority Housing Statistics data return. The latest return is published and available online: http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/local-authority-housing-statistics-data-returns-for-2016-to-2017.

Council Housing: Construction

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 12 November 2018 to Question 188715, what proportion of the 20,000 homes which were to be delivered would have been directly supported by the additional £800 million of grant funding.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 12 November 2018 to Question 188715 on Council housing: construction, what the value was of the average grant requested per unit by the tenure types (a) social rent, (b) affordable rent and (c) other.

James Brokenshire: Given that local authorities are now free to borrow for all their housing schemes and bids through the original borrowing programme have fallen away, we are unable to answer this question without incurring disproportionate cost.

Affordable Housing: Construction

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November to Question 186185 on Affordable Housing, what proportion of the new affordable homes to be delivered by the Affordable Homes Programme will be for social rent.

James Brokenshire: The £9 billion Affordable Homes Programme will deliver at least 250,000 homes by March 2022. At least 12,500 of these will be for social rent outside of London. The Greater London Authority have the flexibility to deliver social rent in London.

Sleeping Rough

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 November to Question 185505 on Sleeping Rough, in which local authority areas the Rough Sleepers Initiative operates; and in each of those local authority areas (a) how much has been spent from the targeted fund and (b) how many individuals have been relieved or prevented from rough sleeping.

James Brokenshire: The Rough Sleeping Initiative (RSI) currently operates in 83 local authorities and we allocated £30 million funding to these local authorities in June 2018 which is currently being spent. You can find individual allocations and the local authorities here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/723358/Updated_-_18-19_allocations.pdfOur expert team of advisers work closely with the 83 areas to support their work in implementing the interventions to help tackle rough sleeping in their local area. Through this interaction we are able to monitor the progress of rough sleeping responses and obtain a better picture of those prevented and relieved from rough sleeping. The annual statistical release, based on street counts and estimates by all local authorities each autumn and published in January, will allow us to assess the extent of this.

Sleeping Rough

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 November to Question 185506 on Sleeping Rough, how many (a) units of accommodation have been made available and (b) lettings have been taken up through the (i) Rapid Rehousing Pathway and (ii) Supported Lettings Fund.

James Brokenshire: We have invited all local authorities to express an interest in being early adopters of the Rapid Rehousing Pathway and will announce the successful allocations in due course.

Public Sector: Land

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when his Department plans to publish the next Public Land for Housing Programme progress report.

James Brokenshire: Our intention is to publish the next Public Land for Housing Programme progress report in the new year.

Parks: Finance

Mr John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Fields in Trust report on revaluing parks and green spaces, published on 7 May, what assessment he has made of the effect of changes to the level of funding for parks on (a) public health and (b) NHS costs.

Rishi Sunak: The Secretary of State welcomes the research from Fields in Trust and recognises the benefits accessing good quality parks and spaces can make to people’s health and wellbeing.While no specific assessment has been made on the effect of changes to the level of funding on health and the NHS, we know that increasing the use of good quality green space for all social groups is likely to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequalities. It can also bring other benefits such as greater community cohesion and reduced social isolation.Public Health England’s briefing, written by the Institute of Health Equity, summarise a detailed evidence review here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/355792/Briefing8_Green_spaces_health_inequalities.pdfIn September 2017, the Government created the ‘Parks Action Group’ to address the issues facing public parks. The Government is working closely with the experts on the group - including Fields in Trust to develop our understanding of the matters facing our public parks and green spaces. Work is currently underway to develop a clearer understanding of the funding picture and to identify a range of initiatives to support the long-term sustainability of our parks and green spaces.

Social Rented Housing: Energy

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Regulator of Social Housing has estimated how much providers will spend on increasing the energy efficiency of their housing stock over the next (a) five and (b) 10 years.

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Regulator of Social Housing has information on the spending plans of housing providers to tackle fuel poverty among people in their housing stock over the next (a) five and (b) 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Kit Malthouse: The Regulator of Social Housing does not produce estimates of, or collect information on, future spending on energy efficiency by housing providers.

Local Government: Buckinghamshire

Dame Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Written Statement of 1 November 2018, Local Government Update, HCWS 1058, from which businesses and organisations in Buckinghamshire he has received representations on local government reorganisation; and what information his Department holds on the amount of grant funding or financial support those businesses and organisations have received from Buckinghamshire County Council in the last three years.

Rishi Sunak: I received representations on unitarisation in Buckinghamshire from the following local business organisations: Buckinghamshire Business First, Buckinghamshire Business Group, Chiltern Chamber of Commerce, Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce; 18 individual local businesses also made representations. Information about grant funding and support provided by local authorities to business organisations is not held centrally. The Local Government Transparency Code 2015 requires local authorities to publicise specified data on financial transactions including publishing details of all grants to voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations.

Unitary Councils: Buckinghamshire

Dame Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that local authorities in Buckinghamshire are able to manage the planning process for the development of High Speed 2 Oxford and Cambridge arc during the transition of those authorities to a single unitary council.

Rishi Sunak: The existing councils will continue to fulfil their role until the new council is in place. Subject to Parliamentary approval, implementing secondary legislation will provide that planning for and implementing the transition to the new unitary council is to be the responsibility of the shadow authority and shadow executive. This will include members of the five existing councils. This ensures that expertise will be available from across the area for such key issues such as HS2 and the Oxford-Cambridge arc.

Energy Performance Certificates

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of buildings with a total floor area between 250 and 1,000 square metres which are required to possess a display energy certificate; and what proportion of those buildings are compliant to date.

Kit Malthouse: There is no recent estimate of the number of public authority buildings between 250 and 1,000 square metres which are required to possess a Display Energy Certificate (DEC). The current number of DECs for buildings of between 250 and 1,000 square meters, including voluntary DECs, is 29,209.

Health: Children

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 9 of the Health and Social care document entitled Prevention is better than cure published on 5 November 2018, what estimate he has made of the number of children in each constituent part of the UK that live in homes that are (a) badly maintained, (b) overcrowded, and (c) in areas of high air pollution.

Kit Malthouse: The Department does not publish information on the number of children who live in homes that are badly maintained, overcrowded, and in areas of high air population. The English Housing Survey collects and publishes information about the condition of dwellings and levels of overcrowding, at a national level. The latest results can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/english-housing-survey.

Ministry of Defence

Afghanistan: Ethnic Groups

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the UK mission to Afghanistan is assisting in the protection of Hazaras people in Ghazni and Uruzgan provinces.

Mark Lancaster: The UK continues to monitor the number of civilian casualties and displaced persons as a result of the recent violence in Ghazni and Uruzgan. The Afghan Security Forces have been in the lead for the security of the Afghan people since 2015 and owing to its response, the situation in these two provinces is stabilising. The UK is committed to supporting the Afghan Security Forces to ensure their capability continues to improve in order to protect all ethnic and religious groups in Afghanistan.

Department for Work and Pensions

Universal Credit

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what representations she has received about the effect on vulnerable people and those with mental health conditions of joint claims for Universal Credit which are paid to one person in the family.

Alok Sharma: We recognise that the move to a single monthly household payment is a significant change and therefore for a minority of claimants, alternative payment arrangements can be provided to help them manage that change. These include: managed payment of the Universal Credit housing cost to landlords; making payments more frequently than monthly (e.g. twice monthly); and splitting the payment between partners within the household. Splitting payments between partners is normally considered to prevent hardship to a claimant and their family, for example if the Universal Credit claimant is not managing their financial affairs and cannot or will not budget for their own or their family’s basic day to day needs. We take seriously the need to support vulnerable claimants. Universal Credit provides enhanced personalised support for people by simplifying the benefits system. All claimants, including vulnerable claimants and those with mental health conditions, receive continuous tailored support managed through personal work coaches, who know each person’s case. Additionally we can offer Personal Budgeting Support which aims to prepare claimants for the financial changes Universal Credit brings. It provides transitional support to help them manage their monthly payments and prioritise essential bills, such as rent and utilities.

Personal Independence Payment: Cancer

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 8 November to Question 187017 on Personal Independence Payment: Cancer, how many people with (a) leukaemia, (b) myeloma, (c) Hodgkin's lymphoma and (d) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma have (i) applied for personal independence payment and (ii) unsuccessfully appealed a decision not to award personal independence payment.

Sarah Newton: Since Personal Independence Payment (PIP) was introduced up to June 2018, there have been:(a) 5,780 decisions for people with a primary disabling condition of leukaemia. There were 90 appeals against disallowances, 30 of which were unsuccessful.(b) 3,430 decision for people with a primary disabling condition of myeloma. There were 30 appeals against disallowances, fewer than five of which were unsuccessful.(c) 2,680 decisions for people with a primary disabling condition of Hodgkin’s lymphoma. There were 40 appeals against disallowances, 10 of which were unsuccessful.(d) 4,240 decisions for people with a primary disabling condition of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. There were 70 appeals against disallowance, 30 of which were unsuccessful. The data at (a) to (d) has been rounded to the nearest 10. The number of decisions does not include people who applied for PIP but withdrew their application before their initial assessment. Since PIP was introduced 3.5m decisions have been made up to June 2018, of these 9% have been appealed and 4% have been overturned. The table below puts these figures in the context of the total number of disallowances and appeals. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. # denotes fewer than 5. Components of this answer and the answer to PQ187017 may not sum to totals due to rounding.The number of decisions does not include people who applied for PIP but withdrew their application before their initial assessment.  PIP decisions, disallowances and appeals up to June 2018 (a) leukaemia(b) myeloma(c) Hodgkin’s lymphoma(d) non-Hodgkin’s lymphomaNumber of decisions5,7803,4302,6804,240Number of disallowances1,040350490680Number of appeals against disallowances90304070Number of disallowances maintained at appeal30#1030  Not all Tribunal appeals will relate to the outcome of the PIP assessment, but other aspects of the PIP process. The appeals may include decisions which are changed at mandatory reconsideration, and where the claimant continues to appeal for a higher PIP award, are then changed again at tribunal appeal.  Data is based on primary disabling condition as recorded on the PIP computer systems. Claimants may often have multiple disabling conditions upon which the decision is based but only the primary condition is shown in these statistics.

Universal Credit

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases relating to universal credit have been referred to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman in each of the last three years.

Alok Sharma: The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman is independent of Government, therefore we do not hold this information.

Crisis Loans

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many crisis loans were awarded in 2017.

Justin Tomlinson: No Crisis Loans were awarded in 2017. Crisis Loans were abolished in England, Scotland and Wales from 1st April 2013 and in Northern Ireland from November 27th 2016 as part of Welfare Reform.

Employment Schemes: Young People

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September to Question 171273, what plans she has to publish data on the outcomes for people receiving support through the Youth Obligation.

Alok Sharma: Holding answer received on 19 November 2018



The Department monitors requests we receive for new statistics and will consider whether we can produce and release analysis that will helpfully inform public debate. The Department is looking at this issue and considering what statistics could be produced.

Occupational Pensions: EU Law

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 8 November 2018 Question 186293 on Occupational Pensions, when the transposition table that is required by the EU Commission as part of the IORP2 Directive will be published.

Guy Opperman: The Transposition Table for IORP II is being prepared and will be submitted to the EU Commission by the transposition date of 13 January 2019. There is no requirement in the Directive for publication by either the EU Commission or UK Government.

Children: Maintenance

Angela Crawley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps can be taken by the child maintenance service against non-resident parents when they have failed to report any changes to their income of greater than 25 per cent.

Justin Tomlinson: Where there has been a reported change in Paying Parents income which exceeds the 25% tolerance, the first step we would take is to obtain evidence to verify the income. Dependant on how the change is reported, this could be via the employer, receiving parent, HMRC or the Paying Parent. Where an income change is proven, the next step would be to complete a reassessment/supersession and pursue any arrears payments with the Paying Parent. All steps /actions will be specific to the detail of the case. Ultimately where there is evidence of criminal activity CMG can pursue a criminal prosecution through the CPS.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Environment Protection

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government plans to take to protect the environment after the UK leaves the EU; and whether those steps will aim to maintain existing levels of protection as required under current EU legislation.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Government is committed to maintaining environmental standards after we leave the EU, and will continue to uphold international obligations through multilateral environmental agreements. The EU (Withdrawal) Act will ensure existing EU environmental law continues to have effect in UK law after the UK leaves the EU. The Government will establish a new, independent statutory body to hold Government to account on the environment, alongside a statutory statement of environmental principles to guide future Government policy making.

Environment Protection

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU without a deal on the delivery of the targets in the Government's 25 year environment plan.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The UK Government is committed to delivering the 25 Year Environment Plan and to be the first generation to leave the environment in a better state than we inherited it. These commitments remain in a deal or no deal scenario. The EU Withdrawal Act 2018 will ensure all existing EU environmental law continues to operate in UK law.

Environment Protection

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for the UK's environmental governance of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The EU (Withdrawal) Act will ensure existing EU environmental law continues to have effect in UK law after the UK leaves the EU. The Government has committed to the creation of a new body to hold the Government to account on its compliance with environmental law. We will work to ensure that the new body is in place as soon as possible in a no deal scenario with the necessary powers to review and if necessary, take enforcement action in respect of breaches of environmental law from when the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice of the European Union has ended in a no deal scenario, from 23:00 on 29 March 2019 onwards. This will mean that the Government will be held accountable as under existing EU law from the day we leave the EU. Any further interim measures that may be necessary under a no deal scenario before the new body is established will be brought forward in due course.

Environment Protection

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU without a deal on the planned environment Bill.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Government is committed to maintaining environmental standards after we leave the EU, and will continue to uphold international obligations through multilateral environmental agreements. The EU Withdrawal Act 2018 will ensure all existing EU environmental law continues to operate in UK law, transferring powers from EU institutions to domestic institutions and ensuring we meet international agreement obligations. The Government has committed to the creation of a new body to hold the Government to account on its compliance with environmental law. We will work to ensure that the new body is in place as soon as possible in a no deal scenario with the necessary powers to review and, if necessary, take enforcement action in respect of breaches of environmental law from when the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice has ended in a no deal scenario, this will be from 23:00 on 29 March 2019 onwards. This will mean that the Government will be held accountable as under existing EU law from the day we leave the EU. Any further interim measures that may be necessary under a no deal scenario before the new body is established will be brought forward in due course.

Birds: Malvern Hills

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans are in place to monitor the effect on skylarks of Natural England-funded grazing on the Malvern hills.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Natural England has no internal, formal monitoring programme for skylarks on the Malvern Hills, but uses the annual monitoring results from the local bird group to inform decisions on management. Natural England also takes advice from its national bird specialist on national skylark population trends.

Fracking: Lancashire

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Environment Agency has visited the Preston New Road shale gas site since the four seismic events of greater than the red light 0.5ML threshold that occurred between 26 October 2018 and 4 November 2018.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Yes.

Home Office

Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration: Publications

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will plans to publish the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration's reports on (a) Asylum Accommodation, (b) Country of Origin Information, (c) Vulnerable Adults and (d) Home Office (Borders, Immigration and Citizenship System) collaborative working with other government departments and agencies.

Caroline Nokes: The ICIBI’s report on the Home Office’s Management of Asylum Accommodation Provision was published on 20 November, along with the Government’s response. The Home Secretary is considering the reports on the Country of Origin Information and Vulnerable Adults, which will be published shortly.The Home Secretary is also considering the report on the Home Office (Borders, Immigration and Citizenship System) collaborative working with Other Government Departments and Agencies, which was received on 30 October 2018. This will be published in due course.

Kweku Adoboli

Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in which year was Kwenku Adoboli last resident in Ghana.

Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how old Kweku Adoboli was when he left Ghana.

Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for (a) how many months and (b) in which years was Kweku Adoboli resident in Ghana.

Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, at what age and in which year did Kweku Aboboli start his residency in the United Kingdom.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office does not comment on individual cases.

Immigrants: EU Nationals

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the rights of EU citizens living in the UK to reside and work in this country will be maintained in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Caroline Nokes: The Government does not want or expect a no deal outcome, and we have now reached an agreement, in principle, with the EU. The Prime Minister has been clear that, in any scenario, there is no question of asking EU citizens resident here to leave. On 21 September, the Prime Minister confirmed that, in the event of no deal, all EU citizens resident in the UK before 29 March 2019 will be able to stay, their rights will be protected, and they will be able to live their lives broadly as they do now.On 30 October, the Prime Minister extended that commitment to citizens of Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein; and we are close to reaching an agreement with Switzerland. We will set out further details shortly, so those affected can have the clarity and certainty they need.

Migrant Workers: Seasonal Workers

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government will maintain its policy on seasonal migrant workers after the UK leaves the EU.

Caroline Nokes: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Darlington on 22nd October 2018, UIN 180695.

Asylum: Syria

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been resettled under the Syrian Vulnerable Person Resettlement Scheme; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office is committed to publishing data in an orderly way as part of the regular quarterly Immigration Statistics, in line with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.As of June 2018, a total of 12,851 people had been resettled in the UK under the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (VPRS) since it began across 288 local authorities.The statistics are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release

UK Border Force: Ports

Steve Double: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration's report entitled An inspection of Border Force operations at south coast ports, published November 2018, what plans he has to ensure that Border Force will have adequate resources and manpower to meet the increasing operational pressures on UK ports.

Caroline Nokes: Border Force is currently recruiting c.600 Border Force officers during 2018/19 to respond to the new requirements at the UK border as a result of EU Exit. This will provide resilience at key locations – including those on the south coast.In addition, Border Force has recruited a Readiness Task Force of c.300 to provide operational resilience to the front line and allow existing staff to undertake EU exit related training.By March 2019, Border Force expects to have increased its workforce by approximately 900 officers, against our March 2018 baseline.The Border Force will always ensure we have the resources and workforce we need to keep the border secure.

Asylum: North East

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Guardian article UK asylum seekers refused housing over social cohesion issues, published 27 September 2018, what information his Department holds on whether local authorities have placed a temporary ban on people seeking asylum from being housed in (a) Durham, (b) Newcastle upon Tyne and (c) Sunderland; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Nokes: The dispersal of Asylum Seekers across the UK requires the active participation of local authorities working with the Home Office in providing support and accommodation.Local Authorities work with the Home Office and its partners to manage the housing of asylum seekers in the UK. We can confirm there are no areas where the dispersal of asylum seekers has been suspended on the basis of social cohesion issues. Officials will continue to work with Local Authorities to ensure dispersal of asylum seekers is managed effectively for those seeking international protection and the communities in which they are based.

Passports

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he plans for the first of the new blue British passports to be issued.

Caroline Nokes: The return to a blue passport will be introduced in a phased approach, which is now familiar when bringing in a redesign of the British passport to ensure a smooth and safe transition. The first of the new blue passports will be issued in late 2019, and all new British passports will be blue from early 2020.

Immigrants: EU Nationals

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of allowing EU citizens living in the UK to retain dual nationality after the UK leaves the EU.

Caroline Nokes: In UK law a British citizen is not prevented from having another nationality. The Government has no plans to change this.

Domestic Violence

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department plans to take to help SMEs tackle domestic abuse in the workplace.

Victoria Atkins: The Government are committed to transforming their approach to domestic abuse, and that includes improving the response of employers to this devastating crime.We have therefore awarded £1 million to the charity Hestia for its “Tools for the Job” pilot project, which will help employers to improve their HR policies on domestic abuse and will fund specialist employment domestic violence advocates.

Visas: Applications

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the booking system for the new Sopra Steria visa premium service centres is planned to go live.

Caroline Nokes: The Sopra Steria UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UK VCAS) went live on 9 November in Manchester. Sopra Steria are delivering a phased transition for UK VCAS and appointment bookings are available 5 calendar days in advance of each site opening.The new Sopra Steria UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UK VCAS) Premium Lounge went live on 12 November.

Visas: Applications

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason the opening of the new booking system for the Sopra Streia Visa Premium Service Centre appointments has been delayed.

Caroline Nokes: The Sopra Steria UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UK VCAS) went live on 9 November in Manchester.UK VCAS appointment bookings are available 5 calendar days in advance of each site opening as per the phased transitional rollout.The new Sopra Steria UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UK VCAS) Premium Lounge went live on 12 November.

Department for Exiting the European Union

Boats

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment his Department has made of the areas in EU waters in which UK boats will be able to sail after the UK leaves the EU.

Mr Robin Walker: Negotiations on the future relationship between the EU and the UK are ongoing. To ensure that citizens and businesses in the UK and across the EU can plan for life after our withdrawal with confidence. We have agreed an implementation period that will last for 21 months beginning on exit day until 31 December 2020. During the implementation period, UK boats will have the same access to EU waters as they do now.The UK Government sees no reason why pleasure vessels used for recreational purposes should see any change as a result of the UK’s exit from the EU. For the most part, it is the rules and regulations of coastal states that apply rather than EU legislation, and maritime transport is liberalised at the international level.We understand that other matters will be relevant to the owners of boats such as the right to the land, dock and refuel and these will be covered by our negotiations on the future relationship.

Brexit: Republic of Ireland

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what discussions he has had with the organisations representing the Irish republican community on the draft agreement on the withdrawal of the UK from the EU and the European Atomic Energy Community.

Chris Heaton-Harris: Over the past months, UK Government Ministers and officials have met with a range of stakeholders in Northern Ireland, including representatives from all communities to discuss and hear their views on a wide range issues relating to our Withdrawal from the EU.Both former Secretaries of State visited Northern Ireland this year to deepen their understanding of one of the key issues of Brexit. They met a range of stakeholders in Northern Ireland and assured them that the Government will uphold our commitments made to the people of Northern Ireland and the Belfast Agreement

National Income

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment his Department has made on the potential effect of (a) the UK leaving the EU without a deal, (b) the draft withdrawal agreement and (c) the UK remaining in the EU on GDP forecasts over the next 10 years.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment Department has made of the potential effect of (a) the UK leaving the EU without a deal, (b) the draft withdrawal agreement and (c) the UK remaining in the EU on forecasted employment rates over the next 10 years.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The UK and the EU have taken a decisive step forward, agreeing the provisional terms of the UK’s smooth and orderly exit from the EU and making significant progress on the outline terms of our future relationship.While the chances of no deal have been reduced considerably, the government will continue to do the responsible thing and prepare for all eventualities, in case a final agreement cannot be reached.The Government is undertaking a wide range of ongoing analysis, across a range of scenarios, in support of our EU exit negotiations and preparations. When we bring forward the vote on the final deal, we will ensure that Parliament is presented with the appropriate analysis to make an informed decision.

Department for International Trade

Exports

Alex Burghart: What progress the Government has made on its export strategy.

Graham Stuart: The Export Strategy, launched in August this year, sets out a new offer to business that provides the support and finance to help UK businesses export. This was created in consultation with business and business organisations to help maximise our exports across the whole of the UK.Much has already been achieved, like the expansion of finance-led Supplier Fairs delivered by UK Export Finance and an enhanced digital service linking businesses with thousands of export opportunities on great.gov.uk. Preparations to implement further commitments are also well developed, with a view to these being rolled out over coming months.

Trade Agreements

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions he has had with the governments of non-EU countries on (a) the draft withdrawal agreement for the UK leaving the EU and (b) the effect of that draft agreement on future trading relationships between the UK and such countries since that draft agreement was agreed by Cabinet.

George Hollingbery: Department for International Trade indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Tourism: Kent

Sir Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effect on Kent’s tourism industry of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Michael Ellis: My Department has not made an assessment of the impact on Kent’s tourism industry of different scenarios related to leaving the EU. My officials are however in regular dialogue with the tourism sector to understand potential implications. This includes recently meeting with Visit Kent.We have agreed in principle the terms of the UK’s smooth and orderly exit from the EU, as set out in the Withdrawal Agreement. We have also agreed the broad terms of our future relationship as set out in the outline Political Declaration. We do not want or expect a no deal scenario, however we continue to prepare for a range of potential outcomes.

Loneliness

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Government's press release entitled PM launches Government’s first loneliness strategy, published on 15 October 2018, whether his Department has conducted a loneliness policy test on Budget 2018.

Mims Davies: There was no requirement on HM Treasury to consider loneliness in developing Budget 2018. The cross-government loneliness team will work with HM Treasury, as with other departments, to explore how social relationships can be considered across their policy-making in future, as recently set out in the first loneliness strategy for England, ‘A connected society’.

Information Commissioner: Data Protection

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, on how many occasions the Information Commissioner's Office has disclosed personal data to the wrong recipient.

Margot James: We do not hold the requested information. The Information Commissioner is independent of Government, and reports directly to Parliament. The Information Commissioner's Office publishes its annual report on its website, www.ICO.org.uk, where it holds such information.

Leader of the House

Family Support Interdepartmental Working Group: Meetings

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Leader of the House, how many meetings of the cross-departmental ministerial working group on family support from conception to the age of two have occurred since that group was announced in July 2018.

Andrea Leadsom: There have been both informal and formal discussions between members of the ministerial working group on family support from conception to the age of two since July 2018. The Group will publish the outcomes of its work in due course.

Northern Ireland Office

National Crime Agency: Northern Ireland

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions she has had with the National Crime Agency on its work in Northern Ireland.

John Penrose: Ministerial responsibility for the National Crime Agency sits with the Home Office. In Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Policing Board has a statutory duty to monitor the exercise of the functions of the NCA in Northern Ireland and has a Memorandum of Understanding with the NCA to support this. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland receives regular reports from the Director General of the NCA which outlines their performance and activity in Northern Ireland. I am pleased the NCA collaborates closely with law enforcement partners in Northern Ireland to tackle serious and organised crime.